Grant: Project Grant

Weight gain during pregnancy and weight before getting pregnant are important for the health of both the mother and baby. Currently, healthcare providers use guidelines from 2009 to recommend how much weight a person should gain during pregnancy based on their pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI). However, these guidelines are older and may no longer be appropriate, especially for people with obesity. There is not enough research about weight gain during pregnancy for people with obesity or with severe obesity, and more studies are needed to understand the long-term effects. Obesity is a serious health problem affecting many people worldwide, including young adults who may get pregnant. The number of people with obesity is rising, and the COVID-19 pandemic may have made it worse, especially for women, young adults, low-income, and racialized groups. This project aims to study how pre-pregnancy weight and pregnancy weight gain affect the health of mothers and babies. In this study we will look at whether gaining more or less weight than recommended is safe for the pregnancy, the mother's health after birth (diabetes, heart disease), and the child's health (asthma or obesity). We will also explore new ways to classify obesity before pregnancy to better understand how it affects health outcomes. The research will use 14 years of data from Ontario to study these questions. The results will help create better health guidelines and support the well-being of mothers and children, especially those with obesity.